From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Sun Mar 29 18:42:31 1998 Return-Path: Received: from lists.io.com (lists.io.com [199.170.88.15]) by pyramid.sjgames.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id SAA06161 for ; Sun, 29 Mar 1998 18:42:30 -0600 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.8.7/8.8.5) id SAA00736 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Sun, 29 Mar 1998 18:42:48 -0600 Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 18:42:48 -0600 Message-Id: <199803300042.SAA00736@lists.io.com> From: owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com (in_nomine-digest) To: in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Subject: in_nomine-digest V1 #699 Reply-To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com Sender: owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Errors-To: owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Precedence: bulk in_nomine-digest Sunday, March 29 1998 Volume 01 : Number 699 In this digest: Re: Re: IN> God changed his mind? (was Why Uriel got pulled out) IN> Colandria (a story and writeup) - kind of long IN> Well, it's time for me to ride into the sunset... IN> Utter Newbie Emerges ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 16:49:59 EST From: MarkDEddy Subject: Re: Re: IN> God changed his mind? (was Why Uriel got pulled out) In a message dated 3/28/98 1:29:43 PM, you wrote: >>But *perceptions* of God can change in a Platonist world-view. Including >(and >>especially) Uriel's! :) > >Uriel's what? Uriel's perception of God or Uriel's Platonist worldview? > >-Jesse Sure. Why not? Mark (hehehehehehehe) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 00:16:45 -0500 (EST) From: Pee Kitty Subject: IN> Colandria (a story and writeup) - kind of long Colandria's Story My life began as a simple reliever--a modest collection of forces gathered together into consciousness and charged with serving the cause of Heaven. I was created long after the first Fall by Bethanel, one of the newer Archangels, and spent the formative years of my life in Heaven. There are a thousand tasks to do every day as an Archangel, and we relievers take the burden off our superiors' shoulders. With Bethanel, it was mostly filekeeping. We recorded the names of new cities as they came into existance, kept track of populations and leaders, and so on. It was always slightly saddening when we had to record the end of a city, as it fell beneath the onslaught of invaders and was burned to the ground or forgotten instead of being resurrected into a new life under a new society. The day-to-day work of Heaven never seemed boring...never, that is, until the first time I set foot on Earth. My master Bethanel deemed me the most worthy and knowledgable to accompany one of his Ofanim on an earthly mission. I did not know what to expect. I had pressed the few relievers I knew who had been there for information, but what they told me did not and could not prepare me for the experience. Heaven outshines Earth in all ways; its beauty and frame of purpose permeate every aspect of the plane. Earth, however, had a thriving sense of life, of sheer existance and strife against the chaos of the Corporeal plane. I was afraid for several days, even the other birds (for that was my vessel at the time, a small blackbird) seemed strange and alien to me. As time went on, however, I grew to see why Homnii, my Ofanite master, relished his visits here. "Heaven has a lot going for it," he'd tell me, "but there's nothing like humanity anywhere in the Celestial realm. The humans are imperfect creatures in an imperfect world, struggling against each other while they struggle against life itself. Some see it as another form of Hell." He'd laugh, "But angels like that just don't get it. It's easy for us to be good; it's in our natures. Anything less hurts and twists at us. Humanity has no such ingrained goodness. When they rise above life and come together like this," he would gesture at the buildings of whatever city we were in, "it means more to the Heavens than all the angels combined. Civilization is a triumph of Good, and it honors me greatly that I may serve our cause in guiding and protecting it." Homnii never failed to impress me with his words, just as he never failed to impress me with the ease at which such eloquent speeches would flow from his lips while guiding a horse between villages at frightening speeds. Sometimes I felt like a moth, flitting from city to city, perching silently in various places to gather information for Homnii. Together, we aided the advancement of countless villiages and burroughs, and once even had the honor of driving a pair of demons out of a city. I grew stronger over the years, and began to think of the day I could fledge as a full angel. I had already decided I would become an Ofanite, speeding between towns, saving people and doing good before moving on again. Homnii approved, of course, smiling as broadly as ever when I told him of my decision. He began to instruct me in the ways of the world...actually, it would be more accurate to say he attempted to instruct me in the ways of the world. Ofanim are not known for having a long attention span, and unfortunately, Homnii was a true example of this stereotype. He would begin teaching me about a certain Song, or about an aspect of the realms, but then something else always seemed to come up. I began to worry that I would not be prepared for life as an angel, but had faith in myself. We continued to move around the Earth, even travelling to the western continents. There had been life there for several centuries, but it was not until it was "discovered" by the English that Bethanel decided it was worthy of his attention. Some found that callous of him, but while I could see their point, I knew that he was only promoting his Word, and my loyalty to him held true. Homnii and I "set up shop" in a growing colony and began aiding humanity in what was sure to be a long, rewarding growth. In retrospect, we should have seen it coming. We were not being especially subtle, and thing were going too perfectly. A squad of demons invaded our house one night, bursting in too suddenly for us to react. Homnii had enough time for a Song, but it was only a moment later that four demons were on him and two more on me. I panicked and flew, but they easily gave chase, laughing and taunting me as I tried to find a place in the house to hide. I doubled back and saw the demons and Homnii in their Celestial forms, fighting in what I knew would be a battle to the death. Fighting back my tears, I swooped around and attacked one of the demons with what strength I could; fortunately, I surprised him and took out an eye before his friend smacked me into a wall. They advanced, unsheathing deadly claws, but I could only see past them, to Homnii in the next room, as the demons ripped his flaming wheels apart. The demon before me knew it, and held his killing blow until Homnii's flames became embers, and then died out completely. Knowing that I would soon join him, I searched for an opening to flee, but in vain. As the demon reared back his clawed, gnarled hand, there was a splintering sound, however. Pieces of the outside door flew into the room, and a huge, burly man ran into the room, brandishing an axe and screaming! I knew him: a Cherub by the name of Cadieriel, a good friend of Hombii, responding to the Celestial Song of Tongues that Homnii had uttered less than a minute ago. It only took one swipe to sunder the first demon's vessel in half, and the other went down two strokes later. The others ran in from the bedroom, shifting back into their Corporeal forms. Cadieriel was the bravest angel I had ever known, but he was not stupid. He grabbed me and crashed through a window to where a horse was waiting, and we rode off into the night in safety. When we stopped, and I had recovered from the shock, I thanked him gratefully for saving my life. I then wept until morning. Bethanel did not ask me to retire from Earthly duty--I requested it. I felt more inadequate as ever; even the thought of fledging as a full angel was uncomfortable to me. I sought out counselling from Elohim, demanded futile truths from Seraphim, and even occasionally sparred with Malakim, in the hope that some day I could return and destroy those demons who destroyed my mentor and closest friend. In the end, it was all pointless. One day, Rodrian approached me. He was a Mercurian of Johab, and a very well known one. "Colandria...can we talk?" I agreed, and we sat down on a street corner outside of Bethanel's City Hall (as his Cathedral in Heaven is known). And so we talked. And talked. And talked. It seemed like days, until I realized that it had been days! Clearly he had asked Bethanel ahead of time if he could detain me. And glad I am that he did. By the time we were finished, I had wept a hundred times, screamed, cursed God and repented with far greater praise, and even attacked him once in sheer anger. But I came out of it whole, my purpose renewed and my faith reaffirmed. I realized that the greatest revenge I could have would be to simply do what I was originally intended for: I had to raise humanity up above Hell's reach and deny them the victory that they so desperately wanted. That, I could do. It was back to fledging. I resumed my Ofanim training, but gradually realized that despite my burning faith and purpose, my heart did not seem to be in what I was doing. I searched my soul and had to admit to myself that I was not truly an Ofanite. The speed and change appealed to me, but I wanted to help--help people for as long as they needed me, not just for as long as I could stand to. I realized that I had wanted to fledge as an Ofanite because of Homnii, because of what he meant to me. I worried briefly that I would disappoint him by changing my mind, but I immediately knew better. I would uphold the morals and lessons he had taught me, and honor his memory with all my heart and soul...and I would do it in my own way, not in his, for that is what he would have wanted. But what to be? Again, I did not wait long for it to hit me. Thinking back to Rodrian, I felt it beginning to warm my heart. He had helped me through a time of crisis, more than anyone (even Homnii) ever had--with the exception of Cadieriel, of course. The Friends of Man were made to help others, to aid and guide them, while the Wheels were made for speed and freedom. I valued the latter, but in the former I saw my Destiny. And so it was that when Bethanel came to me and asked me what form I wished to fledge as, I answered him. And on that day, he made me in his likeness, a Mercurian. Rodrian was the first angel I saw that day, racing up to him and embracing him with joy. He looked at me and smiled, "I trust that you did not make this decision simply to make me happy?" I could tell from the look in his eye that he knew it wasn't so, and just laughed. I began moving around Heaven, meeting people I knew already, but for the first time we were one angel meeting another. It was the best day of my life. Cadieriel was there that day as well, a golden, winged lion prowling around the Catacombs of his Archangel, David. He was amazed. "So soon? I suppose you won't be needing any lifesaving anymore, eh?" I replied that I hoped that would be the case, but that he was free to attune to me any time he liked. We laughed and he introduced me to several of his friends. I found that I knew something about each of them before I even introduced myself, and rejoiced at my choice of Choirs yet again. Bethanel sent me to Earth again the next day. He knew that I was ready for it, and it was as if I had never requested a leave of my Earthly duties. I was back in America again, in a city that had grown to support millions of humans. This was an easy job, comparitively. I did not have to help its growth, just protect it from the myriad of dangers and diabolicals that it faced. The Ofanite in me did not completely regress. While I was never much on running and acrobatics, the automobiles of Earth held a fascination for me. I was given a license as part of my Role, and immediately set off to use it. The next day, one of Bethanel's Vassals was giving me a lecture about "attempting things one is not prepared for" and "disturbance caused by damaging Corporeal objects"; I thought it was a bit extreme--I only hit two other cars, after all. It wasn't long before I had figured out what driving is all about, though, and soon I was (if you'll pardon the term) a demon behind the wheel. Quick, fast, and easy transportation, anywhere, anytime. I just loved cars! After a few days in rush hour traffic, I began to realize where my talents might be appreciated, and began to come up with a plan to gradually ease rush hour traffic and help speed things up, all without compromising anyone's safety (preferably improving it, in fact). As of this writing, I am still working out the details. In the meantime, I persuaded Bethanel to teach me his Green Light attunement, so that I could get around those problems myself in the meantime. I reported back to Heaven on a regular basis, about once a month. On one such visit, Rodrian and Cadieriel were waiting outside for me, smiling. Happy to see them, but suspicious, I asked them what was going on; my suspicions were justified as they glanced conspiratorially at each other and Rodrian replied, "Just come with us. Trust me." I did trust him, of course, and he introduced me to Zefinstelia, a Mercurian friend of his. "She is of Eli, working for Jean; she helps make some of those technological talismans of his." I nodded and introduced myself, and we all talked for a while. Zefinstelia seemed very friendly and outgoing; we hit it off quite well. As it grew late, I mentioned that I had to be heading back down to Earth. The others looked at each other in that same conspiratorial way and asked me to wait just one moment. I asked why, and Zeff (as she liked to be called) pulled out a strange gadget and asked me to put my hand in it. Again, I asked why. "Trust me, Colandria," Rodrian assured me, "it's cool. I promise that I'll tell you why very soon." I had heard things about Servitors of Eli, but my friendships outweighed my fears and I complied. We embraced and I headed back down to Earth. I had forgotten about that encounter after a while, and it wasn't until two years later, when I was checking in and hanging out with my friends, that Zeff reminded me. "Hey, Colly, remember that weirdness we made you go through a few years back?" It didn't take me long to recall it. "Well, I needed to attune something to you, and that was the easiest way to do it and still suprise you!" I let my confusion register on my face. "Oh, I'll show you...wait here," she said, and took off. Cadieriel and a friend he brought along stood silently, but Rodrian could not erase the huge smile from his face. I was this close to just demanding to know what was going on when Zeff came running back with a glowing light in her hands. "Hold this. Okay, now let it flow into you...let it attune to you, as you attune to it. Trust it...become one with it...that's good...." The glow worked its way into my body, as I let myself become one with it. And then, it was gone. "What happened?" I finally asked. "It's an artifact, silly. You just bonded with it--it's yours now!" "Mine? You made this for me, Zeff?" "Well, we all did. I did the main artifacting, of course, but the others contributed Essence, materials, and love." "What...what is it?" They laughed. Rodrian spoke up, "It's a Corporeal artifact, kiddo! Go down to Earth, and imagine your dream car. When you see what I mean, come back up and thank us." Still confused (grateful, but confused), I went back down to Earth. Not sure what to do, I picked up an Auto Trader magazine and flipped through the pictures. My eyes stopped on a pinkish red 1995 Firebird convertible. White seats and top, seats five with ease, chromed accessories and a custom-built engine. I let my mine wrap around the thought of that car and waited to see what happened.... Wow. No, really. Wow. Back in Heaven, I thanked, embraced, and kissed all of them, then did it again. And again. When I realized that I was making a fool out of myself, I stopped, and they laughed. "So, what are you going to call it?" asked Zeff. "Call it?" "It is traditional to name your artifacts. It brings them closer to your heart." "Oh." So I thought. And thought some more. Eventually, I realized the only appropriate thing to do. "It was because of Homnii that I fledged. My entire existance as an angel is a tribute to him, my way of keeping his memory alive. I would like to name it after him, but I know that I would be insulting him to do so. His speed was true and pure, not something to be compared to any Corporeal vehicle. Zeff--" "Please," she interrupted, "don't name it after me. My heart and life are in that artifact, and that is enough. I give this to you freely, and ask no attachment to it other than your gratitude." "I understand. Rodrian, your counselling brought me back from the verge of faithlessness and despair, and because of that--because I want to help others as you have helped me--I became a Mercurian. I cannot think of any greater way of showing my respect and love for you, and feel that any attempt to do so would disgrace what I have already done." He just smiled, understanding perfectly. "But Cadieriel, I owe you my life. You protected me and defended me when I most needed it. You were there for me, and I suspect it was you who oversaw the creation of this artifact, for it, too, will now always be there to help me in times of trouble, whenever I need it." The look on his feline face told me that I was right. "In your honor, Cadierial, I therefore take the name Cadieriel for this artifact. May it help guard me one-tenth as well as you have, for that will be enough to ensure my life." They all smiled, and I knew that I had made the right decision. I looked up to the greater Heavens, and saw a new chapter of my life beginning.... ___ This is a character for an In Nomine game I'm going to play in. The GM wanted semi-experienced characters, so he gave us an additional 5 points, and offered up to 5 more for good background stories (written out); he gave me the full 5 for the above. She has a rather powerful artifact; it costs 19 character points. The GM debated allowing it for a while, but them came to the same conclusion I did--it's a *very* cool artifact, but it will probably be a lot less useful than if I had just spent those 19 points on Songs, skills, or attunements. Frankly, I don't care; it fits the character perfectly, so I took it. FYI, Bethanel can be found on David Edelstein's home page. It's a great writeup and I sincerely hope it makes it into canon some day. Johab, Archangel of Salvation, can be found on his page, too. He recently modified Johab from an Archangel into a servitor of Zadkiel...in our group, it's the other way around. He's much more 'Archangelly' than she is, by far. ___ Colandria, Mercurian of Bethanel (Cities) CORPOREAL FORCES 2, Strength 3, Agility 5 ETHEREAL FORCES 3, Intellience 3, Precision 9 CELESTIAL FORCES 4, Will 6, Perception 10 VESSEL: Man/1, Charisma +1 (with Role/1, Status/2 as "Jasper Shields") SKILLS: Dodge/1, Area Knowledge (Special; see Bethanel)/3, Driving (Car)/1, Ranged Weapon (Pistol)/1, Escape/1, Lockpicking/1, Medicine/1, Savoir-Faire/1, Detect Lies/1, Emote/1, Fast-Talk/1, Lying/1, Seduction/1 SONGS: None ATTUNMENTS: Mercurian of Cities, Green Light ARTIFACTS: Caddie (Corporeal/1, +1 Requires silent prayer, +1 Does not require fuel, +5 Unbreakable, +11 Can be summoned at will) ___ Rev. Pee Kitty, of the order Malkavian-Dobbsian Meow! And finally, a special message to \|/ ____ \|/ anyone who thinks I give a damn... ~@-/ oO \-@~ /_( \__/ )_\ \__U_/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 14:06:18 +0000 From: Nathaniel Eliot Subject: IN> Well, it's time for me to ride into the sunset... For those of you who don't know, my fiancee is very pregnant, and will probably be giving birth within a week or so. Unfortunately, this means that I have to cut back my attention to something; school, while frustrating, is not an option, and neither is work. The only other things that consume so much of my time are sleep and roleplaying, and since sleep is probably going to be at a premium anyway, roleplaying is going to have to take a (hopefully temporary) dirt nap. Thanks to Beth, Maya, Em, and Redneck; without you four, my mind would attain a semblance of sanity. Thanks to everybody on the list, for listening when I got to rambling, and generally doing the suffering fools thing better than I do. Bye. Nathanael, Elohim of Eli in service to Jean temujin9@mci2000.com "I can't tell if you're serious or not," said the driver. "I won't know myself until I know whether life is serious or not," said Trout. "It's dangerous, I know, and it can hurt a lot. That doesn't necessarily mean it's serious, too." - Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 16:30:53 PST From: "Peter Martin" Subject: IN> Utter Newbie Emerges Hi everybody... I'm your worst nightmare, a new guy. (Sorry, I'm a quick study and that will change as soon as possible) I'm familiar with the format (I've been a GURPSnet subscriber for... ...a long time) My question is... as a newbie, do you have any specific tips and tricks for running In Nomine? ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #699 ******************************* The material here is (C) 1997 Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated. All rights reserved.